Belgium Raises Citizenship Application Fee to €1,000 and Tightens Family-Reunification Income Rules

Belgium’s federal government has pushed through the sharpest hike in naturalisation costs since the nationality code was overhauled in 2012. As of 16 April 2026, anyone lodging a standard citizenship application at their local commune must pay €1,000—an increase of more than six-fold on the previous €150 charge that had applied for over a decade. The move forms part of the Arizona coalition’s broader pledge to make immigration “orderly and economically sustainable”, and follows months of parliamentary debate that concluded late on 15 April.

At the same time, new income thresholds for family-reunification visas entered into force. Sponsors must now prove net earnings of at least 110 % of Belgium’s monthly minimum wage (currently about €1,820) plus an extra 10 % for every dependent they already support. Partners have to be at least 21, up from 18, and refugees now have just six months—rather than a full year—to request reunification without meeting the income test. Subsidiary-protection holders face a mandatory two-year wait.

Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt insists the reforms will “protect social budgets and fight abuse”, but NGOs warn they curb the right to family life and disproportionately hit low-income migrants. For employers and relocation managers, the headline concern is retention. A €1,000 citizenship bill—on top of legal fees and language courses—may delay the moment when long-term foreign hires become Belgian nationals with full EU mobility rights. HR teams are already being asked to provide salary attestations for staff who plan to sponsor spouses or children.

Companies that rely on junior or mid-level talent could see higher turnover if families cannot join promptly. Universities fear the steeper costs will deter international post-docs who often use naturalisation as a route to secure EU-wide research funding.



For readers looking to navigate these shifting rules, VisaHQ provides a straightforward way to verify Belgian entry, residence and citizenship requirements. Its dedicated Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) generates personalised document checklists, outlines current fees and timelines, and even arranges courier pickup for supporting paperwork—helping applicants and HR teams stay compliant amid the new cost landscape.

The government argues that even after the hike, Belgium remains competitive compared with neighbours: France charges €55 but requires an in-person prefecture interview and a B1 language test; the Netherlands levies €1,023 and asks for A2 Dutch plus a civic-integration exam; Germany’s planned €400 fee will sit alongside eight-year residence and B1 German. Yet advocacy groups note that Belgium now asks for the largest upfront payment in the EU relative to average net wages.

The Council of State has requested an impact report by the end of the year to measure whether naturalisation numbers drop sharply—Brussels granted 60,108 citizenships in 2024. Practical tips for global-mobility teams include budgeting an additional €1,000 per adult applicant, confirming that communes accept only Bancontact or credit-card payments, and preparing three months of payslips plus the latest tax return for any family-reunification filing.

Applicants whose files are already in progress but unpaid must settle the difference within 30 days or risk refusal. Observers expect the fee to be inflation-indexed each January, meaning it could exceed €1,100 in 2027 if consumer prices follow National Bank forecasts.

While the policy signals Belgium’s tougher stance, well-prepared skilled migrants will still find pathways open—provided they plan early and factor the higher costs into relocation packages.